Terry Fontenot has extensively seen Matt Ryan work, most of the time from a distance. Viewings have always come either in person or on tape, always during the course of a game.
Becoming Falcons general manager gave him access to a lot more. It enriched his understanding of the Falcons quarterback and what makes him tick, allowing Fontenot to see Ryan in great depth.
Fontenot liked what he learned, which gave him confidence in staying the course at quarterback.
He and head coach Arthur Smith didn't draft one over seven rounds. Adding veteran backup A.J. McCarron and an undrafted prospect Feleipe Franks didn't create serious competition.
Ryan remains the Falcons undisputed signal caller, ready to captain them through another campaign.
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Fontenot explained why he feels great about that fact during an exclusive interview with AtlantaFalcons.com, and it's about more than what's available on NFL Game Pass.
"On the outside you just have the game tape," Fontenot said. "Being inside the building, you also see the practice tape and the human element. Being around Matt, you see who he is as the leader, the worker, where his mindset is and how he feels he has a chip on his shoulder and that he has something to prove. Knowing not just that he has the physical talent to do it, but that he has the right mindset to be the same leader of men. That passion you see on the sidelines -- when you're in the building with him you see it 24/7. It doesn't stop. It really doesn't stop.
"The film evaluation, whether it's in a game or in practice, shows where he is. So does the mindset, the passion, the intensity that makes him the man that he is. It checks all the boxes. He's the right leader of this team."
Head coach Arthur Smith also considers Ryan the right leader of his offense. As conveyed to our Steve Wyche, Smith took an empirical approach to all the recent tape available and came away confident Ryan still has it.
"You've got to be objective when reviewing the film to see where [Ryan] is at in his career," Smith told Wyche. "He is still playing at a high level."
That's a plus, considering the Falcons are essentially locked into Ryan for a season or, far more likely, two. The association might last longer if he thrives in Smith's system moving forward, playing as well as he has in the past.
Fontenot and Smith are committed to strengthening the team around Ryan, to give the quarterback and the Falcons the best chance to win every week and spark a competitive renaissance.
Even if all goes as planned and Ryan's excellent and Falcons fortunes improve, the Boston College product won't play forever. New quarterbacks will come aboard and be evaluated in person to see if they're the right fit. Quarterback hunts are always happening, as they should be in any good personnel department, even with the Falcons confident in the passers already on the roster.
"We like our quarterback room, but we're always going to be looking," Fontenot said. "Whether it's this year or next year, in the draft or through trades, we're always going to be looking to bring in quarterbacks. That doesn't change at all. Just because you don't take one in the first round doesn't mean you can't find the right future guy.
"But, with all that being said, we hope that future is way down the road. If you're talking to Matt, he's going to say, 'Slow down. I've got lots of time left.'"
Before heading into the 2020 NFL year, we are going to look back at the best images from players on the active roster. Take a look at the best of quarterback Matt Ryan.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 takes the field before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA, on Sunday September 15, 2019. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Atlanta Falcons)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 in action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA, on Sunday September 15, 2019. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Atlanta Falcons)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 reacts to Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman #24 scoring a touchdown to put the Falcons one point from tying the game in the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, on Sunday October 13, 2019. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 gestures as the Falcons wait to learn if they beat the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, on Sunday December 15, 2019. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Atlanta Falcons)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 in action during the first half of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, on Sunday December 29, 2019. (Photo by Adler Garfield/Atlanta Falcons)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 celebrates as the game-winning touchdown is confirmed against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, on Sunday December 15, 2019. (Photo by Cato Cataldo/Atlanta Falcons)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 leaps over New Orleans Saints cornerback P.J. Williams #26 during the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA, on Thursday November 28, 2019. (Photo by Matt Stamey/Atlanta Falcons)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 in action against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC, on Sunday November 17, 2019. (Photo by Cato Cataldo/Atlanta Falcons)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 with his wife Sarah and his twin sons Johnny and Marshall. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 after the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA, on Sunday November 10, 2019. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)

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